Game 4 starts out horribly for Caps

On the plus side, the Caps controlled the puck on the opening face-off. That was the end of the positives in the game's opening seconds.

After just 17 seconds the defending Stanley Cup champions found themselves down 1-0 when Warren Foegele's slipped behind the Caps defense and feathered a shot into an open net after Braden Holtby went to close down Jaccob Slavin.

Matt Niskanen got trapped up high and didn't get back in time. Allowed the #Canes to get a chance in all alone. Ended up in a goal on their first shot. #Caps down 1-0 just 17 seconds in. pic.twitter.com/aHuCbpsbEK

To add to the miserable opening minute for Washington, Jakub Vrana took a charging penalty to put the Caps further behind the eight ball. Fortunately the Caps were able to avoid further damage while down a man.

Jakub Vrana now has 6 penalty minutes and zero points in this series. That was a bad, dumb penalty by a 2018 playoff hero who is off to a tough start in this series. #Caps to the PK.